Apparatus for restoring muscles in infantile paralysis



E. BAJANOVA APPARATUS FOR RESTORING MUSCLES IN INFANTILE PARALYSIS Feb. 22, 1938.

Filed Oct. 17, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR E. BAJANOVA Feb. 22, 1938.

APPARATUS FOR RESTORING MUSCLES IN INFANTILE PARALYSIS Filed 001:. 17, 1936 2 ShecS-Sheit 2 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 22 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE Elizaveta Bajanova, New York, N. Y.

Application October 17, 1936, Serial No. 106,200

6 Claims.

My invention relates to aniniantile paralysis muscle restoring apparatus, designed for use in connection with the treatment and corrective exercising of persons afflicted with infantile paralysis.

It is a common fact that paralytics whose limbs or legs have been afflicted, ordinarily walk from the hip, dragging and swinging the leg which is powerless. This is especially so and is frequently observed in persons who have been afflicted by this disease to the extent that one member has become shorter than the other. In that case, it is difficult to exercise and build the muscles of the shorter afflicted member of the body because when both legs are resting on the surface of the ground, the entire weight of the body is placed upon said shorter member.

It is also an established fact, that an effective treatment for persons whose limbs or legs have become paralyzed to a greater or lesser extent, is to induce a greater and more vigorous circulation in the afflicted members thereby building the muscles and restoring power in such parts.

In outline, this invention comprises a frame mounted on a base, and a supporting girdle encircling the body, suitable for attachment to said frame.

It is the purpose and object of the inventor, by this apparatus to promote: First, a means where- 0 by one afilicted with infantile paralysis or similar ailment may exercise the affiicted limb or leg so as torestore muscle and power in said member and to induce a vigorous circulation therein. Secondly, at the same time that the afiiicted member is being exercised, the body, from the hips upward, is maintained in a normal erect position and is confined to. that rigid position at all times, thus correcting the defective body movements which result from the use of a crutch or brace.

It is a further object of this invention to prevent the person who is exercising from. using his body to move, drag or swing the powerless member. This is also accomplished by confining the body to this one stationary position.

Still further, the invention contemplates pro vision of adjustable elevating foot-rests for persons who have one member shorter than the other, so that when such a person is standing in position, both feet resting on the base, the body remains erect and the weight of the body is equally distributed on each member.

Still further, the invention proposes a girdle to confine the body of the user from the hips upward, which girdle shall be so constructed, and

shall utilize such a distribution of forces, that the greater the users Weight, the tighter the jacket will confine him.

Still further, the invention proposes an arrangement whereby the frame of the apparatus and the girdle may be adjusted to various sizes and positions, so as to suit persons of different height and dimensions.

Still further, the invention proposes the construction of an apparatus such as is above-mentioned, which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be made to appear more fully hereinafter.

Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same parts.

This invention consists of parts, combinations of parts, and relative location of parts, as well as in the steps, sequence of steps, and combination of steps which are fully set forth in the following specification and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my apparatus, constructed according to this invention and illustrated with a person thereon.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the section line 22 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the base taken along the section line 33 in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the base taken 35 along the section line 44 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the section 5-5 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of a construction adaptable for joining the upper ends of the apparatus.

b Fig. '7 is a plan View of a body supporting mem- Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of a body supporting member in position as it appears on the body.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a vertical section of one of the telescoping bar members.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the support of the frame is composed of seven vertical bars or legs I, equipped with flanges 2 upon the bottom ends, which are attached to the base i and horizontal bars 3 which are joined with the vertical 55 bars or'legs l by means of side outlet elbows 4,

cross fittings 5 and by means of a solid bar bent at a point 6 to form a downwardly inclined 90 angle. On this support are mounted three tubular uprights l, threaded at the lower ends thereof and suitable to be engaged in the threaded cross fittings 5, being disposed one on either side of the support and one on the rear thereof. There are also three upper bars 8, each adapted to fit slidingly into its respective upright I, so that by telescoping the same in or out, the upper bars 8 may be vertically adjusted according to the height of the person using the apparatus. Each of the telescoping bars 8,)is securedin its adjusted position by means of a set screw 9, which is threaded into an opening I!) formed in aside of the collar 1' on the end of the upright "I; This is more particularly illustrated in Fig. 9. The telescoping members 8 are secured at the top by means of horizontal bars 12 which are joiriedby means of three side outlet elbows ll secured at the end of each telescoping member 8. r

In the modification illustrated'by Fig. 6, the telescoping members '8 are secured ,by means of a removable bar construction. The elbows II have not side outlets as 'describedabove, but are each constructed with a bar l3 pivoted on one arm of the elbow [4. The other arm offthe elbow I4 has two pin holes, one on either side. 'Each bar l3 pivoting at the arm l4 of each elbow H is secured in the. apertures l5 of the adjacent elbow by means of a pin IG'carried by a chain I! attached to the bar I3.

Upon the surface of the base I are constructed threegside walls l8, l9, made'of wood or other suitable material. The center wall I8 is secured to the base i. Theouterwalls l9 are secured to connecting strips which slide in the guideways or grooves 2i out within the base, so that the top of each strip 20 is level with the surface of the base. The strips 20, when adjusted to the proper position are each secured by means of aset screw 22 :which fits into afthread'ed opening 23 in the connecting strip 20 and is adapted to engage, and clamp against the base as represented in Fig. 4.

The purpose of these walls is to form two compartments, one foreach foot,"ad-justable so that the foot may be confined to as small an area as possible. The advantage of such an arrangement is thatwhen the person exercising onthe apparatus raises one leg, hewill be guided to bring down the leg to its original normal position and notto drop his leg in any other'position or space.

On the inside of each compartment formed by vertical transverse members I8, I9 (herein also termed 'walls *isa foot-rest 24 which is level with the surface of the base (as shown in Fig. 4) and is made of wood-or other suitable material. Thefoot-rest 2 4is adaptcdto be raised and adjusted to any desired height, in those instances where one leg is shorter than the other, so that whena person stands on the foot-rests 24, his body will be erect andeach foot ;will rest on the surface of its foot-rest 24, so that the weight of the body will be equally distributed on each leg.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the base I is at least partly hollow, so that the apparatus hereinafter described may be enclosed therein. The foot-rest 24 is adapted to be raised by means of two jack-screws 25, one located on either end of the foot-rest 24 and constructed in like manner, th'ehead of which is permanently attached to the, bottom of the foot-rest 24. The jack screws 25 areconstructed and secured in position by a horizontal rod 26 which is attached tothe turned by hand. Thus, when wheel 28 is turned,

the sprocket-wheels 21 are engaged and they in turn cause the jack-screws 25 to raise the footrest 24.

Details of the jack-screw and sprocket-wheels will not be given in the specification, since they form no part of this invention.

The-body supporting girdle consists of an abdominal belt 30 and a chest band 3| as represented in Fig. 7 of the annexed drawings. Said belt and band are connected by four vertically direct'edstrips 32 made of leather or other suitable material, separately spaced and stitched to the belt3'l! and band 3|, which are disposed as follows; "one on "either side of the body, one along the spine, and one from the sternum down to the Waist.

The upper body portion, the chest band 3|, consists of an adjustable strap 33 and buckle 34. This strap-is made of leather-or other suitable materialand is fastened around the chest of the wearer. lmmediatelyabove'the vertical leather strap 32 at the spine, is a ring 35. which is mounted sufiicien-tly loosely in a loop 36 made of suitable material stitched to the chest band 3|, which acts as a means for connection to the frame, as hereinafter described. Three looped strips 31 are stitched to the chest band 3| to act as passages for shoulder straps 45, hereinafter describe, and to hold them in one position against the body.

The lower body portion, the abdominal belt 30, is made of leather or other suitable material and is fastenedaround the abdomen of the wearer by means of adjustable straps 38 and buckles 39 which are stitched to the belt. This belt is so shaped and cut'at a point 40 as to fit comfortably across the buttocks and is fastened and kept in position by straps 4| and buckles 42 which'are stitched to the belt as shown in Figs. 1 and '7.

The lower extremity of this belt is kept in position by adjustable straps '43 which are stitched to the beltand which'pass around the thighs and are fastened to buckles Mwhichare also stitched to the belt as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Adjustable straps 45 are stitched on the back of the abdominal belt 30 and cross on the back of the wearer, passing through loops 3! 'stitchedto the chest band 3| hereinbeforedescribed, on its back. These straps then pass over the shoulders and are recarried front passing throughloops 31 stitched on the front of the chest band 3| hereinbefore described and fastened in bucklescarried by straps 46 stitched on thefront of the abdominal'belt 30. Thereare also on this abdominal be1tj3ll four rings AT-Which are each mounted *sufliciently loosely in a leather loop 48, stitched to said belt and acting as a means for attachment tothe frame as hereinafter described.

As representedin Figs; land 5, there are three sleeves 49 which slidingly fit over the three uprights fl and each secured in position by aset screw 50 which fits into a threaded opening 51- on the side of the sleeve. Thereis also annexedto a side of the sleeve a-ring 52 which acts as a hold for the connection of a;strap adjustment link 53 to a ring 41 on the body supporting girdle hereinbeforedescribed. -.Said=adjustable strap'link 53 is made of leather or other suitable material having an adjustable buckle: joint 54 whereby the link may be lengthened or shortened when necessary, with a snap hook 55 mounted on the end of the strap link 53, which snaps on to its respective ring 4'! on the body supporting girdle and its ring 52 on the sleeves 49. All three sleeves 49 are constructed in like manner, equipped with adjustable strap links 53 which attach to the respective rings 4'! on the abdominal belt 30.

A horizontal curvilinear bar 56 which extends from one side of the frame to the other side, is secured to sleeve 49, is adapted to turn about pivots 5'! and is locked by means of a locking pin 58 in pin holes 59 on the adjacent sleeve 49. At the center of said curvilinear bar 56 is a ring 52' to which may be attached a strap adjustment link 53 with snap hooks 55, similar to those on the sleeves 49 and which similarly attaches by means of said snap hook 55 to the front ring 41 stitched on the abdominal belt.

Likewise, there are three sleeves 60 which slidingly fit over the telescoping bar 8 and are secured in the desired position by a set screw 5| which engages into a threaded opening 62 in a side of the sleeves 60. From each of said sleeves 69, there extends a small bar 63 which has annexed thereto two rings 64. Crossed shoulder straps 45 which are stitched to the abdominal belt 35 hereinbefore described have leather loops 55 which slidingly fit over said strap-s and into which are mounted rings 66. Adjustable straps links 61, used to confine the upper portion of the body, are equipped with snap hooks 68 on either end, which connect rings 65 on the shoulder straps 45 to rings 64 on the sleeves 50. Ring 64 on the sleeve of the rear telescoping bar 8 is connected by means of an adjustable strap 69 having a snap hook 10 on either end to ring 35 on the chest band 3|.

In using this invention as a muscle restoring apparatus, the user adjusts the body supporting girdle on his body as shown in Figs. 1 and '7. He then assumes a position on the base resting each foot on the foot-rest in each separate compartment. Each foot-rest is so equipped as to be elevated, in the event that one member of the body is shorter than the other. The sleeves on the uprights are adjusted to a position level with the rings on the abdominal belt of the body supporting girdle. The strap link is then hooked on to the ring on the sleeve and the respective ring on the abdominal belt. Thus the torso is confined in a rigid position. The sleeves on the telescoping members are then adjusted at a position above the head of the person. In like manner, strap links join the rings on the sleeve to the rings on the shoulder straps and the rear of the chest band. The upper portion of the body is now confined in a rigid position. The user then, without the aid or movement of any part of his body from the hips upward, exercises the afllicted member by raising said member clear of the foot-rest and then lowers the member back to its normal position in its own compartment. These movements cause a greater circulation in the afiiicted member and build and restore the muscles therein. In no manner whatever is the user, by a proper arrangement of this apparatus, able to swing or drag the afllicted member with the upper portion of the body. Furthermore, when the user is again able to walk unassisted, he will readily walk with the trunk erect and not sway from side to side, because when exercising with this apparatus, the body is trained to remain in its normal erect position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A muscle restoring apparatus comprising a base, a vertically adjustable frame mounted on said base, a body supporting and encircling member, adapted to be secured to said frame, three separate, vertical transverse members mounted on said base, forming separate foot-compartments, and means for adjusting the amount of separation between said members.

2. A muscle restoring apparatus comprising a base, a vertically adjustable frame mounted on said base, a body supporting and encircling member adapted to be secured. to said frame, three separate, vertical transverse members mounted on said base, forming separate foot-compartments, and means for adjusting the amount of separation thereof, by mounting each outer transverse member on two laterally disposed and slidably adjustable connecting pieces, adapted to slide laterally in guideways in the base.

3. A muscle restoring apparatus comprising a base, a vertically adjustable frame mounted thereon, a body supporting and encircling member adapted to be secured to said frame or support, two adjustable foot-compartments formed by three separate, vertical transverse members,

the outer members of which are slidingly adjustable, a foot-rest in each said compartment and means for lowering or raising said foot-rest to any desired height.

4. A muscle restoring apparatus comp-rising a. base, a vertically adjustable frame mounted thereon, a body supporting and encircling member, adapted to be secured to said frame, two adjustable foot-compartments comprising three separate, vertical transverse members, of which the two outer members, are slidingly adjustable, a foot-rest in each said compartment and means for lowering or raising said foot-rest to any desired height, which means comprises a jack-screw supporting each end of the foot-rest and the pair of which are engaged by sprocket-wheels engaged by a. chain, said mechanism being enclosed in the base, and an operating wheel for engaging said mechanism from without.

5. A muscle restoring apparatus comprising a base, a vertically adjustable frame mounted thereon on a support made of horizontal and vertical bars fitted with flanges for attachment to the base, said frame comprising three vertical tubular uprights, adjustable extension members in telescoping connection with said uprights, united at the top by horizontal bars, a sleeve which slidingly fits over each upright with a ring annexed to a side thereof, a set screw engaged in a side of said sleeve and adapted to engage against the uprlght at the desired position, a sleeve which slidingly fits over each telescoping member with a ring annexed to a side thereof, a set screw engaged in a side of said sleeve and adapted toengage against the telescoping member at the desired position, a horizontal curvilinear bar with a ring in the center thereof, pivotally mounted on a side of the sleeve on the upright and locked by a pin in the apertures of the sleeve on the adjacent upright, an adjustable body supporting member with a plurality of rings, adjustable strap links with snap hooks on either end adapted as means for securing said body supporting member to the rings on the sleeves and curvilinear bar, adjusted to a proper position so that the body from the hips upward is confined in'a rigid position.

6. An apparatus comprising "an adjustable body supporting member, said body supporting member comprising a'chest band, an abdominal belt, vertical strips connecting said band and belt, the abdominal belt shaped and cut so as to be fitted across the buttocks, straps and buckles which fasten around the thigh to hold the body 10 supporting member in position, a pair of crossed shoulder straps stitched to the abdominal belt, a plurality of vrings mounted in :a leather loop stitched to the abdominal belt, rings which slidlingly fit over .the crossed shoulder straps, and means for attachment of said .body supporting member to a vertica'lly adjustable frame, so that the upper portion of the body is confined in a normal erect position, while the legs may be freely exercised.

ELIZAVETA BAJANOVA. 10 

